Campaign mounted to recognize CCW In Federal Parks

TheHighRoad.org ^ | August 21, 2004 | various

[Mulder]

This was posted over on thehighroad.org. Also, Phil VanCleave, head of VCDL, has a thread posted over on packing.org.

There is currently a country wide campaign started this week to get the secretary of the Interior, (who packs herself) to change the policy and let CCW holders in U.S. Parks. Perhaps some of you have read this at Packing.org already. We should continue to contact the Secretary of the Interior, who could make the change without Congress' approval:

Ms. Gale Norton Secretary of the Interior U.S. Department of the Interior Dept. HG, 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 Phone: (202) 208-7351 gale_norton@ios.doi.gov

How much do you want to bet that 3,100 emails and phone calls will get her attention?

Suggested email:

Dear Secretary Norton,

The regulations for federal parks need to be revised. Any citizen who is trusted by a state to carry a handgun for self-defense needs to be allowed to carry that handgun in federal parks. This can be accomplished easily using the same mechanism that is used in federal forests: have the park regulations assimilate the host state's firearms laws.

Criminals know no boundaries. Parks, often with remote areas, are not immune from violent crime. My right to defend my life and the lives of my family should not end at an artificial boundary that violent criminals will never respect.

Please let me know what you are going to do to protect my right to self-defense.

Sincerely, [name and address]

[Don Joe]

Casual typists are what scare me.

There should be reasonable restrictions on who can post and where they can post it. Without some kind of safety net, we can end up with anyone typing dangerous speech anywhere they want.

I don't have a problem with responsible, licensed writers being allowed to type in certain venues, but to allow anyone to write anywhere they want, well, that scares me.

Face it -- when they wrote the First Amendment, they didn't have the Internet, or copy machines, or fax machines to worry about. It's a different world today.

[coconutt2000]

lol, that's funny...

[glock rocks]

Actually, it would be nice to carry any way/where you want. In fact, I'd support an amendment to that effect.

[eno_]

"Better to be judged by twelve than carried by six".

And it won't even take 6 after the bear is through chewing on you. Even in the Northeast we are getting enough big animals that I would not want to go camping without something that could convince a bear I'm more trouble than it's worth.

[eno_]

It's true. Again, search FR for "it's a different world" and similar nostrums.

Airplanes, nuclear bombs, anthrax, etc., do nothing to negate the fundamental wisdom of the Founders. Do you trust Tom Ridge, much less, say, Jamie Gorelick to tell you which parts of the Constitution are still safe to keep in force?

[Melinda in TN]

I'm a permit holder and I always take my gun when I go to a National Park, sign or no sign.

One time my husband and I took our horses to the Cherokee National Forest to ride with friends. I had a leather holster that I kept attached to the saddle beside the saddle horn and within easy reach. On this particular day, the rest of the group had been running and I chose to go at a walk so my horse and I were alone. A four-wheel drive truck load of drunks pulled up beside and attempted to harass me. I unsnapped the strap over the trigger guard and they saw the pistol. Without another word they decided to leave. Right after that a ranger pulled alongside and asked me what I was doing riding alone in the mountains. I explained and while I was explaining he saw the gun. He stared at it just a second, looked at me and said "Have a nice day and be careful". He never mentioned the gun. I guess he figured any female alone in the mountains of TN needed protection because he never said a word about the gun.

[ridesthemiles]

You were a very protected 16 y/o.

[cavtrooper21]

CCW ping!


Good-bye Katie the Hillary clone, hello CCW in Kansas.....

[Joe Brower]

[45Auto]

The only casual gun owners that I am aware of are inner city punks who belong to gangs and who peddle drugs and use their "casually carried gun" to enforce their "turf."

[45Auto]

Oh, and that's why I and millions of my fellow citizens are armed. A totallly disarmed citzenry like that proposed by the Brady Boob and that other moron over at Americans For Gun Destruction would fall prey to these inner city "casual gun owners" in less time than you can say "Mr and Mrs. America, Turn 'em all in." Law enforcement does a fine job, but the cops cannot be everywhere all the time.

[Cobra64]

Sounds like you don't understand the qualifications & requirements to earn a CCW permit.

[RJL]

Bump

[coconutt2000]

My guess is no criminal record and demonstrated need is the minimum in most areas.

[Double Tap]

I would never deprive myself of the experience and wonder of some of our National Parks. I have visited Glacier, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Big Bend, Mesa Verde... and I must tell you, I've never been unarmed.

Yep, concealed means concealed.

[Double Tap]

Like he said, you don't know what you are talking about. Ever hear of "Shall Issue"?

[Cobra64]

coconut: I would hate to be shot by a fellow camper because they were twitchy on the trigger.

snopercod: I guess you've never read the statistics on improper use of handguns by CCW holders.

Yup. This clown is most likely a member of HCI. Like most of them, they never do their homework, and just get sucked in by their ignorant buddies who know nothing of the qualifications and requirements of earning a CCW.

[Double Tap]

I didn't say that. I just think there are too many "casual" gun owners who don't respect the weapons they carry... Essentially, people who have seen too many westerns and think the gun makes them a cowboy.

Yep, straight out of the VPC handbook. I love it when you gun grabbers show up and start off by saying you "believe in the Second Amendment, BUT...".

[Jasper]

"Actually, it would be nice to carry any way/where you want. In fact I'd support an amendment to that effect."

I think you left out the sarcasm tag. (grin)

[Mini-14]

Done